Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein activation of serum-response element-dependent transcription occurs downstream of RhoA and is inhibited by cGMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation

J Biol Chem. 2004 Mar 12;279(11):10397-407. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M313048200. Epub 2003 Dec 16.

Abstract

Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) associates with cytoskeletal structures and promotes F-actin formation. RhoA, a member of the Ras superfamily of proteins, activates serum response element (SRE)-dependent transcription through changes in actin dynamics. We now show that the F-actin binding region of VASP is required for VASP stimulation of SRE-dependent transcription, and that VASP is downstream of RhoA in stimulating SRE-dependent transcription. The isolated carboxyl-terminal coiled-coil region of VASP mediates protein tetramerization and has been used as a dominant negative form of VASP; we found that it forms complexes with endogenous VASP in vivo and inhibits in a dose-dependent fashion serum-, RhoA-, and VASP-stimulated SRE-dependent transcription. Cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (G-kinase) inhibits RhoA activation of SRE-dependent transcription (Gudi, T., Chen, J. C., Casteel, D. E., Seasholtz, T. M., Boss, G. R., and Pilz, R. B. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 37382-37393). We now show that the G-kinase inhibition that occurs downstream of RhoA can be explained, at least in part, by G-kinase phosphorylation of VASP on Ser(239) at the carboxyl-terminal end of the G-actin binding site, with some contribution by phosphorylation of Ser(157), which is proximal to the profilin binding site. A phosphorylation-deficient VASP mutant can partly prevent cGMP/G-kinase inhibition of serum- and RhoA-induced SRE-dependent transcription. These studies show that VASP, an important component of the cellular microfilament system, plays a major role in regulating SRE-dependent transcription, and that G-kinase regulates VASP activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / chemistry*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coloring Agents / pharmacology
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type I
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / physiology*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Humans
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Mutation
  • Phalloidine / pharmacology
  • Phosphoproteins / chemistry*
  • Phosphoproteins / physiology
  • Phosphorylation
  • Precipitin Tests
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Rats
  • Serine / chemistry
  • Serum Response Element*
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Transfection
  • Vasodilator Agents / pharmacology*
  • Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Actins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Coloring Agents
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein
  • Phalloidine
  • Serine
  • DNA
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type I
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • PRKG1 protein, human
  • GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein